Section 2.4 Religion and Community cohesion Flashcards
‘Men and women should have equal rights in religion ‘
YES
(4)
P All people created equal
E imago dei
E should have the same rights in everything, including region
P Society has changed therefore religion should as well.
E Changes in C of E in 1991 allowed women to be ordained and in 2015 to allow female bishops
P Jesus, the son of God treated women as his equals
E: women were the first witnesses of his resurrection
E: ‘Very early in the morning … the women … did not fid the body of the Lord Jesus’
P St Paul’s teaching
P”there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
How does Government Promote Community Cohesion?
4
- P: Passed laws which made discrimination illegal
E: 1976 Race Relations Act - made it illegal to discriminate against a person because of their colour, nationality or ethnicity
E: This discourages people from being racist, therefore encouraging cohesion - P: Establishes commissions to protect anti-discrimination laws
E: Commission for Racial Equality was set up in 1976 to show the importance of equal chances in life and to supervise that the Race Relations Act was being followed
E: The monitoring of the law ensures it is being effective and so that communities are working together - P: Holds enquiries when things go wrong
E: The Macpherson Enquiry, prompted by Stephen Lawrence’s murder, showed that the police discriminated against ethnic minorities
E: This allowed the government to take action to stop the institutionalised racism in the police force and therefore stopping discrimination in local communities - P: Educates children on community cohesion
E: It became part of the national curriculum in 2006, with OFSTED judges assessing how well this is followed both in subject matter and overall atmosphere
E: If children are raised and educated to accept other races/faiths, they are more likely to continue this idea into adulthood
How do Churches help asylum seekers?
4
- P: They organise social activities for adults and families
E: Visits to museums or art galleries
E: This helps keep a family together, relieves them of stress and also educates them about the country they want to live in - P: Speak out on behalf of the asylum seekers
E: CoE supports the ‘Still Human, Still Here’ campaign which fights for the human rights of asylum seekers and immigrants
E: This raises awareness and also encourages the government to pass positive legislation - P: Offer help to refugees
E: RESTORE is the name of a project that was set up by a group of Churches in the Birmingham area to welcome, help and support refugees and asylum seekers. All denominations are involved.
E: Spreads awareness amongst in local areas - all denominations mean a wider amount of people are included - P: They provide necessary items
E: Collect home starter kits, which contain essentials such as kettles. Some churches provide language classes.
E: This helps integrate people into society and make them become more independent
Explain why Christians help to promote racial harmony
4
- P: Jesus’ Teachings
E: In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, he showed that races who hated each other should love each other as neighbours
E: Jesus has moral authority over Christians and therefore they should apply his teachings to their own lives - P: God created all humans equally
E: ‘So he made them in his image’
E: We are all made in the image of God and therefore equal, so therefore we should all treat each other equally - P: Church Teachings
E: “racism is not merely one sin among many, it is a radical evil dividing the human family…” - Catechism
E: Church is a source of moral authority, Christians should follow its teachings - P: God has no favourites among the races
E: St. Pauls said ‘there is neither Jew nor Greek … for you are all in one in Christ
E: This further shows how all races are equal and everyone should treat each other equally
Explain why there are differences among Christians in their attitudes to other religions
(4)
. P: Pluralism (Quakers) the belief that all religions lead to God
E: “There are many rooms in my Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you’ - Jesus
E: Some Christians will therefore interpret this as meaning that there are rooms for all religions in life and that we should accept all of them
- P: However, the RCC believes in inclusivism, the belief that all religions can help people reach God but Christianity is the only religion with the whole truth.
E: “The difference between Christianity and other religions is… total and partial understanding” - Bishop Neill
E: The only way to God is through Jesus (as he cleared away our sin) and so therefore Christianity is the one true religion - P: However some, like Evangelicals, believe in Exclusivism, the belief that Christianity is the one true religion
E: This is supported by the biblical quote “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” and ‘I am the way the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except though Me.” - Jesus
E: Evangelists believe the Bible is the literal word of God and this statement supports the idea that Christianity is the one true religion and it is a Christian’s duty to spread it.
Explain how religions work to promote community cohesion
4
- P: Religious people seek to find similarities between different religions
E: Christianity, Judaism and Islam all believe in Moses and Abraham
E: This gives religious people a shared belief and unites them - P: Religious charities help all people
E: RESTORE group in Birmingham involves and is for people of all denominations
E: This creates a sense of belonging and support for all in a community - P: Religious people invite people of other faiths to their festivals
E: Many non-Christians celebrate Christmas
E: Festivals encourage happiness and bring people together - P: Multi-faith groups have been set up
E: The Inter Faith Network was set up in 1987 to promote good relations between people of different faiths
E: These target local areas and work to promote community cohesion
Do you think there are benefits to living in a multi-faith society? YES
(3)
- P: Multi-faith societies are often more tolerant
E: People are used to having their neighbours practise a different religion
E: Do not see it as a threat - P: Religious festivals are about celebration
E: Christmas, Diwali
E: Celebration unites a community - P: Widens people’s knowledge of the world
E: Educated through close proximity
E: Ignorance is usually what fuels conflict
Do you think there are benefits to living in a multi-faith society? NO
(3)
- Conflict of faith
E: Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims have a long history of fighting
E: Can lead to disharmony in a community - P: Exclusivism ideology
E: Evangelists
E: Will therefore cause conflict if one group of people is determined that their religion is the only true religion - P: Problems in multi-faith families
E: Where to have the marriage ceremony/what faith to raise the children
E: Could cause conflict within a family
Do you think that living in a multi-ethnic society helps to reduce racism? YES
(2)
- P: A multi-ethnic society gives people the opportunity to become educated about different cultures
E: Neighbours celebrating Diwali or Hanukkah - encourages people to join in
E: Education stops ignorance - P: Children raised in a multi ethnic society will not be aware of racial differences
E They will have grown up used to mixed races
Why have attitude to men and women changed in the UK?
4
- P: Women gained a voice
E: Women got the right to vote in 1918 (with limitations) and in 1928 all women over the age of 21 can vote
E: This meant that women now had more of an influence in government, and therefore in the UK - P: Women became part of the workforce
E: In WW1 and WW2, women replaced men when they went off to war
E: This showed that women were just as capable as men and it normalised the idea of them working - P: Men now take more of a part in raising children
E: Men are now entitled to at least two weeks paternity leave after the birth of their child
E: This not only ensures that men have more of an active role in raising their children but it also means women are no longer expected to - P: New inventions
E: Contraception Pill and later a whole range of hormonal contraception
E: Allowed women to be in control of their family planning - empowered them
Do you think that living in a multi ethnic society reduces racism?
YES
(2)
P Makes you aware of other cultures
E in London there are many traditional events such as Nottinghill Carnival and Diwali.
E We learn to respect other views which reduces racism
P brings new skills and ideas into society.
E in Britain 26 % of doctors in the NHS are non British
E Society become more enriched which reduces racism
‘Men and women should have equal rights in religion ‘
AGAINST
(3)
P St Paul’s teaching
E ‘I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority ver a man’
P Jesus did not appoint women as his disciples
E RCC believes that this means women shouldn’t be ordained
P In Genesis men were created first
E ‘God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man
E Therefore
Why do Churches help Asylum Workers?
- P: Biblical Teachings
E: ‘Love God and thy neighbour’
E: Bible is seen by fundamentalists (RCC) as the literal word of God so they should follow this teaching - P: Jesus’ Teachings
E: Golden Rule
E: If you were in a scary, foreign country and often fleeing from a danger, you would want help - P: Christians will go to heaven if they help those in need
E: ‘Parable of the Sheep and the Goats’
E: Asylum seekers are people in need so Christians should help them - P: All human beings are equal
E: “So God made them in his image”
E: All human beings should therefore be treated equally and with compassion and respect
Media Study: Vicars of Dibley
‘The Vicar of Dibly’, a TV programme which explores the role of women in the Church
- P: It shows the arguments for women being in the Church
E: The woman vicar is good at her job - she encourages people to go to Church
E: Programme shows and suggests that women are capable - P: It also shows the arguments against women being in the Church
E: Goes against tradition and tradition is what makes the Church of England AND Jesus chose 12 male disciples
E: Does give arguments to why women should not given large roles within the Church - P: It is an honest programme
E: Clear confrontation of views; there is a scene where a letter is read out in front of the woman vicar as to why she is not wanted there
E: It tackles the issue full on - P: Slight bias towards the opinion that women should be more involved with the Church
E: Likeable, funny main character makes audience want her to succeed
E: Therefore it encourages viewers to support the pro-women message
(C) Explain Christian attitudes towards the role of women
- P: Biblical Teachings cause divide in opinion
E: Differing accounts of Genesis
E: Christians will follow what account they believe in - P: RCC believes men and women are equal but have different roles in life
E: “The Church has no authority whatever to confer priestly ordination on women” - Pope John Paul II - Jesus was a man, priests are supposed to represent men
E: But Virgin Mary is also extremely important in the Church - equal but different roles - P: St. Paul’s Teachings cause different interpretations
E: Galatians 3:28, 1 Timothy 2:11-12
E: Christians will follow what account they believe in - P: Church of England believe Jesus chose 12 male disciples because that was normal in society
E: July 2008 Synod voted in favour of women bishops
E: More liberal view
